ISLAMABAD: Nationwide protests on Monday entered their fourth day as people across various cities in Pakistan are demonstrating against the exorbitant electricity bills. Protestors are urging government authorities and electric supply companies to either withdraw or reduce the excessively high charges, warning that they will refuse to pay their bills if their demands are not met.
Apart from the capital city, Islamabad, protests have taken place in Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Chsitia, Layya, Khushab, Hafizabad, Vehari, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Arifwala, Bahawalnagar, Mandi Bahauddin, Karachi, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Charsadda, Mansehra, and other parts of the country.
PM Kakar Takes Notice of Exorbitant Electricity Bills
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Ul Haq Kakar has called a second consecutive meeting to address the issue of skyrocketing electricity bills. He discussed the situation with federal ministers and secretaries and assured the public of forthcoming relief measures. The PM disclosed this while taking to social media and informed the nation the government would soon provide a relief to the people.
آج منعقدہ اجلاس میں پاور ڈویژن نے بریفنگ دی، مخلتف وفاقی وزراءسمیت سیکٹریز نے شرکت کی۔ اجلاس میں عوام کو بجلی کے بلوں میں ریلیف دینے کے لئے وزارت توانائی اور وزارت خزانہ کو مل کر لائحہ عمل بنانے کی ذمہ داری دی گئی ہے۔ مختلف سرکاری ملازمین کو مفت یونٹس کے معاملہ پر بھی تفصیلی… https://t.co/soXBVtLScK
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 27, 2023
The first meeting, held on Sunday, was inconclusive, prompting the announcement of another meeting. The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the government would not take any hasty actions that might harm the country. It emphasized that officials, including the prime minister, should not enjoy free electricity while the public faces financial difficulties.
Earlier, in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, hundreds of protestors gathered in front of the IESCO (Islamabad Electric Supply Company) and chanted slogans against the government and the electric supply company. To manage the angry country, a large number of police personnel arrived on the spot. Demonstrators voiced their grievances against the government and electric supply companies, and in some areas, protests led to traffic disruption and road blockades.
In Peshawar, the protestors blocked the main Kohat Road, burned tires and electricity bills and chanted slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) with a demand to reduce the tariff. A huge protest demonstration was held in Battagram, organized by traders, where the protestors blocked the Karakoram Highway at Khatmi Nabuwat Chowk traffic and shouted slogans against the government for sending them exorbitant electricity bills.
In the Islamabad Barakhoh area, another protest was held by Jumati Islami against the increase in electricity bills, where the protestors, while having placards and banners, blocked the main-Islamabad-Murree road for all kinds of traffic and demanded the government for immediate review over the issue.
The protests have drawn participants from various sectors of society, including civil society members, traders, farmers, and legal and business professionals. Political parties like Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan People Party (PPP) expressed concern and threatened nationwide protests if additional taxes on power bills were not removed.
Protesters have highlighted their inability to pay the high bills, with some resorting to selling their possessions to cover the costs. The steep increase in electricity charges has put financial strain on individuals and families, leading to frustrations and protests.
NEPRA Response
Despite repeated attempts to get the point of view of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), and their stance on the ongoing situation. WENews contacted PRO NEPRA Mazhar Iqbal Ranjha, however, his staff responded that he was in a meeting.
In Manshera, Sargodha, Chishtian and some others parts the shopkeepers and traders called for protest followed by a complete and partial shutter down. In Mansehra almost all business centers were closed, while some cities in the country witnessed traffic disruption and traffic jams.
Public Views
A protestor in Mansehra expressed his inability to pay the bill, adding that he was now compelled to sellout his belongings to pay the huge bills. Another Zeshan Kabir from the Rawalpindi protest said that he was living in a portion with his small family and hardly earned Rs 35 thousand per month, but he was shocked to find a Rs 17 thousand electricity bill for the previous month.
A resident of Islamabad, Ibraheem said that to beat the scorching heat, he bought an inverter AC for his kids this season, which he operated only in the night from 11 pm to morning 7 am and switched the AC off when his kids left for school, however on utilizing 510 units he received a bill of Rs twenty-seven thousand. “Now I have decided to sell the split AC back”, he lamented, adding that it was unfortunate that people like him pay for the elite class to bring down the circular debt but can’t pay for their kids.
Apart from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, in some of the areas, the protestors also burnt the electricity bill as a protest as they were of the view that in ongoing inflation, they can’t afford to buy breed for their family members and now the additional burden of power tariffs.
In most of the area, the protestors were of the view that they would continue their protest till the fulfilment of their demands. They also demand the withdrawal of free electricity facilities from all government employees, including officials from WAPDA.
